It's the love connection you never expected to go beyond a first date: Isaac Mizrahi and Liz Claiborne.

The collaboration of Mizrahi, the designer who brought fashion to the Target masses (and gave us all the right to call it Tar-jay), and Liz Claiborne is hitting streets and stores this spring.

Mizrahi, who is no longer designing for Target, seems up to the challenge of taking Liz out of her middle-aged funk. Of course, the timing couldn't be worse -- in this economy, are women going to rush to Macy's and Dillard's to snap up Mizrahi the way we did at Target? Who knows?

But I think the bright colors and feminine cuts that Mizrahi brings to the Liz spring collection trumps his designs for Target, which let's face it, were just weird at times. (For a good laugh, check out Stephanie in her pre-Deal Diva days paying homage to Mizrahi at Target.)

In his new life, Mizrahi is more girly girl than edgy. Some of the spring collection's poofy skirts and wide-legged pants look oh-so-fab on slim models, but could be disastrous on real women. His love affair with color continues (thankfully toned down from the Target days). And he is embracing a soft shape -- from cascading ruffles to flattering pencil skirts -- that just feels happy.

And who better than Isaac Mirzahi to bring us a little much needed optimism these days? 

~ Deal Diva Letitia

(Photos: Mizrahi for Liz Claiborne, spring collection: gray dress, $149; floral sweater, $79 and floral skirt, $79; logo print shirt dress, $89.)